Stephen Collins is an ambitious politician. Cal McAffrey is a well-respected investigative journalist and Stephen's ex-campaign manager. En route to work one morning, Stephen's research assistant mysteriously falls to her ... more &raquodeath on the London Underground. It's not long before revelations of their affair hit the headlines. Meanwhile a suspected teenage drug dealer is found shot dead. These (apparently unconnected) events expose a dangerous habit within modern government of dancing too closely with the corporate devil. Friendships are tested and lives are put on the line as an intricate web of lies unfolds.&laquo less

Member Movie Reviews

This is a very suspenceful series and a gripping story. We couldn't wait to see what happened next.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Belinda S. (niara) from NEW YORK, NY Reviewed on 3/21/2014...

Blistering, brilliant series from BBC. Started watching it at midnight thinking, I'll just watch the first twenty minutes and at 2:30 in the morning, I had to tear myself away because I had to get up in four hours to go to work.

Brilliant all around -- acting, writing, directing. You have to stay with it as the story takes so many leaps and turns that I found it hard to follow at times. Bill Nighy is sublime as the slick newspaper editor and a tour-de-force for James MacAvoy and David Morrissey. Do not confuse this one with the American remake with Ben Affleck -- this is the original it was based on. Utterly and absolutely brilliant.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Vivian Q. from GREENVILLE, SC Reviewed on 3/25/2011...

Riveting performances and excellent, but complicated, storyline. Very highly recommend.

Jeannine W. (jrelehw) from LONDONDERRY, NH Reviewed on 7/3/2009...

This was really good! I had no idea there were episodes, so it must have been on tv? Once you get used to the Scots & Brit accents, its totally awesome and suspenseful! LOVED James Macavoy in this!
Bummer who actually dunnit!

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Diana P. (statue86) from NEW YORK, NY Reviewed on 3/14/2009...

Really good until the very end.

1 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Movie Reviews

Incestuous Interplay Between Politics, Media, and Industry

prisrob | New EnglandUSA | 03/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""The more compelling moments of the series come not in the various subplots surround the mystery in front of us--although it is a great mystery indeed--but in how indoctrinate and incestuous the interplay between politics, media, and industry are in the modern information age. All three stand at cross-purposes, yet secretly acknowledge that none can succeed without careful consideration of the other two. Vital communication often runs deep underneath the observed interactions between the groups, taking place in back-room meetings and clandestine e-mails, and through veiled threats." Judge Arsenault

Having just come off the viewing of 10 weeks of the critically acclaimed HBO's TV show 'The Wire', I needed a pick me up, and wowser did I find one. This BBC 6 show series that aired in 2004 has it all and it is an even toss up with me as to which show is best, 'The Wire' or 'State of Play'. In both series the acting is superb. Bill Nighy as the wry, buttoned down, full of himself editor of the Herald hits the mark every time and won the UK's Best Actor award. Polly Walker known to most of us from HBO's 'Rome' is the politician's wife and is flawless. David Morrissey, as the politician, John Simm and Kelly Macdonald as the intrepid reporters for the Herald mark this cast as fully realized.

The shotgun murder of a drug-related killing, and the apparent accidental death of Sonia Baker, a researcher for Member of Parliament Stephen Collins seems unrelated. The one difference is the makings of a scandal when the news of Sonia's death hits the streets. Stephen Collins the Parliament member who employed Sonia is visibly shocked and upset when her death is announced. The editor of the Herald suspects some hanky-panky and sends two of his best investigative reporters out to look the matter over. Cal McCaffrey and Della Smith find that these two deaths are not only related but were linked to the oil industry and the British government. One scandal after another is uncovered and this minor story soon leaps to the largest story of the year.

The story of corruption and mayhem and lies and deceit are all realistic. The fact that the media, government and industry could all be in collusion seems all too true to those of us in the US looking at the war in Iraq and what has been wrought. What we don't count on is that once we think we have everything figured out, a new twist occurs. Some of this is a little over the top, but the superb acting counters any fallacy.

'State Of Play' shines on the media, in this case, the newspaper, the Herald. Financial success is intertwined with the government, and it is not easy to convince the CEO and the board that publishing the story is the right thing to do. Everyone in this series is touched in some manner by the final decisions and actions that take place. The action, the suspense, the writing, the cinematography are all as one to produce one of the best BBC series I have viewed. Helen Mirren and Russell Crowe are at this moment filming a movie version of this series. We have the best here, how could they ever top this series?

Highly, Highly Recommended. prisrob 03-13-08

The Girl in the Cafe

8 1/2 Women

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Best drama I've seen in years!!

Quietcat | 01/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"State of Play (Miniseries)Outstanding story, great cast and superb direction! The cast includes some of the best British actors of current day. A great story that, for once, doesn't talk down to the audience. If you appreciate a good suspense film try this one. Everyone I have shown this to loves it. I can't imagine how this can be shortened into a feature length movie, at least the film is using the original writer. Here's to hoping that there will be a second season of this series."

BBC Mini-Series..political thriller....

Seen Them All | SoCal Desert | 11/29/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is an outstanding BBC Mini-Series that aired in 2003. A British politicians assistant is found dead on the subway (underground). Is this a random incident or is there more to the story. Complex, with great dialog and a taut script. Well acted. I saw this when it aired and have been waiting for the DVD. This is TV as it should be."

BBC at its best!

Zachary R. Morgan | Boston, MA | 12/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I caught most of this series on BBC America, but the Tevo missed the last episode and I've been waiting with baited breath for the commercial release in the US. This is so well scripted and acted, it is as good at television gets these days (this and The Wire). I'd definitely suggest seeing the BBC original over what I imagine will be a mediocre Hollywood adaptation that should be out in late 2008."

Left bereft after 'State of Play' was over

Andy Orrock | Dallas, TX | 03/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This riveting mini-series from the BBC is television drama of the highest order. We watched it over a period of six weeks on PBS. On the seventh Sunday, we were bereft. Its brilliance is undeniable.

The cast is incredible - John Simm (Life on Mars), David Morrissey (later to attempt self-immolation of his career in Basic Instinct 2 (Unrated, Extended Cut)), Bill Nighy (Still Crazy and countless other classic, untouchable pieces of droll excellence), Polly Walker (Rome - The Complete First Season) and Kelly Macdonald (No Country for Old Men)...oh yeah, and a smaller role by one James McAvoy, since gone very large in little things like, oh, The Last King of Scotland (Widescreen Edition) and Atonement (Widescreen Edition). He gets pumped up here with middle of the cover box treatment, but his role is smaller.

The excellence of the production hangs on the intersection of journalist Cal McCaffrey, as portrayed by Simm, and MP Stephen Collins, as portrayed here by Morrissey. To complicate issues between the two, Collins' winning campaign for MP was managed by McCaffrey, and there's the not small matter of Cal's less-than-subtle pining for Collins' wife (Walker).

Over 500 IMDB reviewers have weighed in with an average review of 8.8 (on a 10 scale), pretty much a chart-blower by that discriminating audience (The Godfather and The Shawshank Redemption are 9.1)."